Dubai – ‘Late Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil was a Shepherd who shared an intimate bond with the Expatriate Community’, the executive members of the Syro-Malabar Community (SMC) in Dubai expressed their sorrow at the loss of the loving shepherd during a meeting to mourn the demise of late Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil.
SMC, Dubai President Manoj Thomas, Vipin Varghese, Benny Mathew, Prathap James, Benny Thomas, Dipu Sebastian remembered the late Archbishop as a loving father and recalled moments of their personal interaction with him.
The influence and love each one shared with Mar Joseph Powathil was evident from everyone’s words.
SMC Dubai also expressed their gratitude to the late Archbishop for all the care and affection he offered to the community. The members also prayed for repose of his soul.
Pope Benedict XVI acclaimed Mar Joseph Powathil as the Crown of the Church during the ad limina visit of the Bishops of Syro Malabar Church in May 2011. Mar Joseph was the first Syro Malabar Bishop consecrated by a Pope and the only Syro Malabar Bishop consecrated by a Saint – Pope Paul VI on 13 February 1972 in Rome.
He was appointed auxiliary bishop of Changanassery (Titular Bishop of Caesarea Philippi) on January 29, 1972 and was ordained bishop by Pope Paul VI on February 13, 1972.
Recognizing the migrant populace
Mar Powathil was the one who thought about the migrants of the church. Due to the large-scale migrations for better job opportunities and educational needs, a large amount of faithful lived outside the proper territory of the Mother Church, without being able to receive proper pastoral care from her.
Mar Powathil raised the issue with Vatican and in the Bishops conferences. As a result, Mar Antony Padiyara was appointed as the Apostolic Visitor for the Migrants, to study the present status of the migrants and report the needs. As a result of the Apostolic Visitor's studies, large population of the faithful were identified in many cities and immediate action was taken to erect a new diocese of Kallyan for the migrants in and around Bombay.
During his pastoral ministry, Mar Powathil created a generation of faithful who were passionate about Syro Malabar Church as an oriental Church. Now, this has grown into a much wider second-generation spread among all the eparchies and regions of the Syro Malabar Church both inside and outside Kerala and even to other parts of the world. This young generation takes a keen interest in studying the Church and traditions and trying to restore the lost traditions.
He labored zealously to promote formation based on his Syro-Malabar identity, to priests, religious and the laity. Oriental Study Forum, Dukrana - periodical, Christian Orient - periodical, Missionary Orientation Centre (MOC, recognized by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome), Amala Theological College for the novices, Mar Thoma Vidya Nikethan for Laity (Master Degree in Religious Sciences: recognized by the Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome) etc. are the means he ushered for this. He also founded an Eastern Monastic Congregation – Sisters of St. Thomas.
As the head of Central Liturgical Commission, he tried to restore the Holy Qurbana of the Syro-Malabar Church, as per the guidelines of Vatican. Result was the Restored Holy Qurbana, inaugurated by Saint Pope John Paul II, at Kottayam on February 8, 1986.
For all who are outside the Syro-Malabar Church, Mar Powathil is the man of Ecumenism. He worked hard for the unity and co-operation among all the christian factions.
He was the crown of the Syro-Malabar Church, a real Patriarch.